Windshield guard



April '13 192e., 1,580,645 J. BRANDSTETTER WINDSHIELD GUARD Filed Nov. l, 1924 Jfff ,Emo/#afer Patented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED STATE-s JOSEF BRANDSTETTER,

or cnIcAGO, ILLINOIS.

w'INDsHrELn GUARD.

Application mea November 1, 1924. serial No. 747,149.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEF BRANDsTE'rrER, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lImprovements in a Windshield Guard; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others 1'0 skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. L

My invention relates to means preventing the deposition of moisture on the front window pane or Vwind-shield of a vehicle from obscuring the view of occupants of the vchicle, and particularly that of the driver.

Heretofore, this has been accomplished to a certain extent by employing so-called wind-shield cleaners for wiping-the deposited moisture olf a portion of the pane, but such appliances have proven 'seriously defective in practice, both because they require mechanism which is apt to get out ofA Order and because they will not operate ef- 25 fectively under some of the moist weather conditions. So also, attempts have been made to remove the deposited moisture from the wind-shield or other front window portions of vehicles by blowing either cold or warm air against the same, but these arrangements likewise have proven inadequate for the intended purpose under some weather conditions. Y

My present invention aims to prevent such an obstruction of the drivers clear view by initially preventing the moisture from gathering on the glass pane, instead of allowing the moisture to accumulate there and then attempting to remove it. Furthermore, my invention aims to accomplish the intended purpose Without employing any moving parts whatever in front of the vehicle and without requiring any-` mechanism other than that needed for providing a supply of compressed air, such .a supply being already available on many classes of vehicles. So also, my inventionv aims to provide an arrangement for this purpose, which will be equally suited for use on varions types of vehicles, including street cars and elevated railroad trains as well as automobiles, and including automobiles regardless of whether or not they are equipped with visors. Still further and more detailed objects of my invention will appear from the following specification and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the Jforward portion of a closed automobile, show ing a perforated tube mounted on the front of the vehicle for projecting an aircurtain in? accordance with my invention, with the hood over the air tube shown in dotted lines.

Fig'. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through a portion of Fig. l, with B5 dotted lines showing the direction in which the curtain of compressed air is projected in front ofthe window pane.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the embodiment of Fig. l, diagrammatically showing the connections to a supply of compressed `air, and with the hood also shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section through a portion lof the air-distributing duct of the embodiment of Fig. 3, showing the location ofthe air outlets in this duct.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automobile, showing the exposed part of my arrangement as used under a visor or sun-shield.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the air distributing tube, employed in the embodiments'of Figs. l to 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged bottom viewof a part of a modified form of .such a tube, namely one in which the tube has a longitudinal slot instead of spaced perforations for the emission of air.

Fig. S is a perspective view of the h ood employed over the air distributing tube in Figs. l, Z and 3.

Generally speaking. my invention accomplishes the intended purposes by providing a curtain of rapidly descending air in front of the window pane, wind-shield or the lil-re which is to be guarded from moisture, this curtain being so disposed that even a rapid forward movement of the vehicle will not permit the descending air and the moisture intercepted by this air to be deflected rearwardly against the glass pane. Vith this in mind` I preferably project at least the main portion of the curtain of air :from points disposed above the top of .the 105 window pane and at some distance forward Y of this point, and also project the air somewhat forwardly at an inclination which will compensate for the rearward pushing edect of the air in front of the'moving vehicle. 1 10 I also desirably4 extend this air curtain for shielding a 'the air supply and also rearwardly at both sides of the window pane so as to shield. the latter against the reception of moisture driven sidewise of the vehicle by lateral or diagonal winds. o

For example, in employing my invention wind-shield or'other frontal window pane 1/ from moisture, I fasten to the front 2 of the vehicle Ibody above this pane anair duct arranged as shown in Figs. l to 3 inclusive. This,duct preferably has a main portion 3 extending horizontally above the window lpane and spaced forwardly from the said body` front-portion 2, together with rearwardly directed ductportions '4 and 5, which'extend to the'said front por- 't-ion '2 and which desirably are continued through the latter so as to alford the supply connections for the compressed air. The entire exposedduct, consisting of theportions 3, 4 and 5, is provided withsa largenumber of relativelyvsmall perforations 6 for the emission of compressed air supplied to the duct. These fperfora'tions or air outlets are alldisposed in the lower portion of the ducted so as to direct the air away ow pane l. For this purpose and are arran from the Win I preferably main duct portion 3 so that they project the air in jets which are somewhat inclined forwardly, as show-n Vby the'dotted line 7 .in Figs. 1 and 2. Likewise, I drill-theair outlets in the duct portions 4 and 5 so that they will project the air laterally away from the window pane as shown by the dotted lines 8 and 9 inFig. 1. Y

For ,the air sup Ythis compressed air supply. To secure a fairly uniform ditsribution of the air, vI preferably connect the duct at both ends to duct towards the middle of the main tion 3 as shown in F/ig. 3, so thatits decreases towards that middle. j

Moreover, I preferably locate the air outlets6 sufficiently close to eachother so that the jets of Lair issuing from adjacent outlets will merge into each other, nthereby forming an air curtain inthe form of a substantially continuous sheet. By so doing, it will be obvious that with air supplied at even,a moderate pressure, Iv obtain an air curtain both in frontfof the window pane and atthe'opposite sides of this pane. This curtain intercepts the descending rainv vor lsnowso as to vduct forwardly drill the perforations 6 in the ly, I may employ anysuitable means, as. or example .the air com-V ends of the air-dis is applied to a street-carv preferably taper the prevent such lmoisture from reaching the window pane, and since the air is downwardly d irec'ted,lit carries the moisture down below the window.` By sloping the main portion of this\air curtain' forwardly, I counteract the rearward pushing effect of the air against which the vehicle is moving )and by spacing the main portion 3 of 'the from the front -of the vehicle body, I increase the effective distance between the air curtain and the shielded window pane. still more. Consequently, I

can'lreadily make my arrangement highly effective even for vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed. Likewise, by providing the air curtain with lateral wind portions, formed by the air issuing throughv the Shanks 4 and 5 of the sbstantially U-shaped duct, I prevent side winds from blowing moisture against the pane. y,

In pract1ce,'my 'invention may obviously be applied to vehicles regardless of their nature and regardless struction Aof the' front body portion adjacent to tl1e\ window pane or wind-shield which is to be guarded. Thus, the air duct may be entirelysupported by the upper portion of the body front asshown 'in Fig. 2, ormay be partly supported from a sun- .shield or visor, 13 as shown in Fig. 5. In either case, it will be obvious that no mechanism whatever is required Iat -or near the Window that A Afrom this pane,' I prevent the formation Aon pane which is to be shielded; also,

of the particular cony keeping the moisture initially away the latter of frost or other films of moisture VWhen the air-distributing tube is installedv under a visor or sun-shield,.the latter will act asa protecting roof portion to prevent raxnor snow from descending between thel forward tube portion 3 and the frontof the vehicle body, but in this case I preferably still provlde side guards 14 for preventing wind vfrom driving the moisture from either side ofthe vehicle under theA visor and above the tube portions 4 and 5, or in other words above the top of the air curtain. Where the vehicle has no visor or other portion projecting suiliciently forward of the bodg;7 .front to form a roof over the air-distributing tube, I desirably pro- -vide such a protecting root l5 integral with the side guards 14. In this case, the roof 1.5' desirably has a forward extension 16 sloping Adownward frwardly beyond the air outlets in the forward air tube in Figs. 2 and 8. Thus arranged, the roof (which can be attached to the body front as shown 'in Fig. 2) prevents winds from striking any part of the projected'air until after the latter has issued from the airportion 3, as shown instead of forming spaced air v dow pane of a vehicle,l

distributing tube, so that even strong air currents will not cause an undue deflection of the emitted air. y To aid further in this, I may also provide the air-tube with a web 17 sloping downward in front ofthe air portion 3 and sloping laterally outward of the vehicle in the tube Shanks 4 and 5.

However, while I have illustrated and de'- scribed my invention in embodiments including certain highly desirable features, I do not wish to be limited to the details of the construction and arrangement thus disclosed, it being obvious that these might be Vvaried in many ways without departing either from the spirit of my invention or from the appended claims. For example, outlets in the air-,distributing tube, I may employ a, narrow'but continuous slot 18 for this purpose as shown in Fig. 7. So also, I may `pro vide the tube 3 at its top with a rearwardly directed webv 18 whereby the roof 15 can conveniently be secured to it.

I claim as my invention 1. A moisture guard for the frontal wincomprising a curtain of compressed air projected downwardly from above the window pane, the said curtain having a main portion extending 'in 'front of the window pane and wings extending from the said main portion substantially to the adjacent front of the vehicle'at opposite sides of the window pane.

2. A moisture guard as per claim 1, in which the main air curtain portion slopes forwardly downward. y

3. Means for preventing the deposition oi atmospheric moisture on the frontal window pane of a vehicle, comprising a fixedly mounted duct extending transversely of the vehicle above the portion of the said window pane which is to be shielded from moisture, and at a considerable distance forp .moisture from reaching v 5. Means for preventing the deposltlon oi wardly of the pane the duct having apertures directed the window pane at a sharplyl acute angle to the face ott the pane, and means Jfor supplying air under pressure to the duct.

4. A moisture-deposition preventing arrangement as per claim 3 in which the apertures are so closely spaced that the issuing air forms a substantially uninterrupted air curtain in front of the said portion of the window panefor preventing descending the pane.

atmospheric moisture on the frontal window pane of a 'veh1cle, comprislng a duct extending transversely ot' the vehicle above' the portion of the said window pane which is to be 'shielded from. moisture, the duct having a main portion extending transverse- `ly of\ the vehicle forwardly' of. the window -pane and. having lateral portions leading Yot the said Shanks.

the window V pane, and

downwardly and forwardly ofv lower parts of all of the said duct-portions.

6. A moisture-deposition preventing arrangement as per claim 5, lateral duct portions are spaced laterally in which the outward from the sides of the window pane.

7. Means for preventing the deposition of atmospheric moisture on the frontal Window pane of a vehicle, U-shapcd duct disposed above the window pane and provided with' downwardly open apertures, lthe said duct having its shanks extending forwardly from the body of the vehicle and having the portion. connecting the Shanks disposed substantially parallel to the window pane, air under pressure to 8. Means for preventing the deposition of atmospheric moisture on the frontal window pane of' a vehicle, comprising a substantially comprising a substantially and means-for supplying the duct through one U- haped duct disposed above. the window pane and provided with downwardly open apertures, the said ducthaving its Shanks extending forwardly rom the. body of the vehicle and having the `portion connecting the shanks disposed substantially parallel to means' for supplying air under pressureto theduct through both of the Shanks.

' 9. Means for preventing the deposition of atmospheric moisture on the frontal window pane of a vehicle, comprising a substantially U-shaped duct disposed above the window pane and provided with downwardly open apertures, the said duct having its Shanks extending forwardly from the body,of the v ehicle and having the portion connecting the Shanks disposed substantially parallel to the window pane, and means for supplying air under pressure air, in front of .the portionof theto the duct through both. of the shanks, the duct having the bore of- -its 'said connecting portion tapering in size from both shanks toward the middle of the mounted, 1n the formV of a curtain having a Y A front 'portion spaced forwardly `from the.

said pane and havingv wings extending rearwardly from the said front portion to the said body -front at opposite sides of the said pane. 1 11. The having a frontal apertured in its combination with aV vehicle body Y window pane, of a duct ".125

bottom and comprising a i.

front rpart extending substantially parallel to the #said forwardly of the pane together with lateral duct parts extending rearwardly from the.

pane above-and-'at a distance pressed air to the front duetv parts A the vehicle pressed airV to the duct, and

' ingover all of the ends of the said front part to the front ofv the vehicle body, means for supplying comduct, and a hood'extend lng over all of the; said` duct parts to form a roof over the duct and over-the space be-A 'tWeen the duot and the saidlbody front.

12. The combination with a having a frontal window pane, of a.' duct apertured in its bottom and comprising a part extending substantially parallel pane above and at a distanceforthe pane together with lateral extending rearwardly from the said front part tothe front of body, means for to the said wardly of ends of the ro the space betvveen the duct and the said body front, the

vehicle body t hood havingedge portions depending below the bottom of the duct. v s

13. The combination with a 'vehlcle having a. frontal Window pane, of a body duct apertured inits'bottom and disposed for- Wardly ofthe said pane and above the latter, he duct having a depending web disposed forwardly of the apertures in serving as a wind-shield for air initially issuing from the duct through the apertures t erein.

14. Moisture-deposition preventing meansas per claim 12, in which the duct has anl integral web through Which it4 is secured to October 424;,4

' t e hood.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, 17924. f

JOSEF BRNDSTETTER.

.the duct and.. 

